Sean Grayson, a 32-year-old former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy convicted of second-degree murder for killing Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, has died in prison due to Stage 4 colon cancer. He was serving a 20-year sentence at the Illinois Department of Corrections after being found guilty last October. Grayson had recently been denied medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board despite his advanced cancer diagnosis. His death comes just months after he was convicted of shooting Massey, who called police for help and was killed in her home while allegedly holding a pot of water.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sean Grayson, a 32-year-old former Illinois sheriff's deputy, has died while serving his 20-year sentence for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman. Massey was shot by Grayson in her home in Sangamon County, Illinois after she called 911 to report a prowler on July 6, 2024. The incident was captured on body camera video and sparked protests and calls for justice. Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder last year and had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, which progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver, lungs, and rectum.
Grayson's death has left Massey's family feeling robbed of "true justice." Her cousin, Sontae Massey, said that the family was not notified directly about Grayson's death and had to read about it online. The family believes that Grayson should have served his full sentence, even if he was ill. In a statement, Sontae Massey said, "It doesn't feel like justice to me... Sonya should still be here. That is the loss we are still living with."
Written for “Ex-Deputy's Prison Death Sentence” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 2084 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-27
Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, died on Sunday.
asserted
Grayson → convict → Sunday
Attorney Daniel L. Fultz, who served as Grayson's attorney, confirmed the news on Sunday.
asserted
who → serve → Sunday
Grayson had been battling Stage 4 colon cancer, for which he was undergoing treatment.
asserted
he → battle → treatment
Grayson, 32, was found guilty last October of second-degree murder for the shooting of Sonya Massey and was serving a 20-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, which was to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release.
asserted
which → find → release
Last month, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board rejected Grayson's medical release request and ordered him to remain in prison, despite the application citing advanced colon cancer.
asserted
application → reject → cancer
CBS News Chicago has reached out to the Department of Corrections, but has yet to hear back.
asserted
Chicago → reach → Corrections
Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, the Attorneys for Massey's family, responded to Grayson's death in a statement saying, in part, "Grayson's death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back.
asserted
death → respond → Sonya
We wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one.
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who → wish → one
Sonya's family knows that pain all too well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days."
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family → know → days
What happened in the Sonya Massey shooting?
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What → happen → shooting
In July 2024, 36-year-old Massey called police for help for a possible prowler outside her home.
asserted
Massey → call → home
Grayson, along with another officer, responded to her home and spoke with her.
asserted
Grayson → respond → her
While inside the home, Grayson said Massey began acting erratically and saying that she rebuked him "in the name of Jesus" while walking towards a pot of water on her stove.
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she → act → stove
Bodycam video from Grayson's partner captured the moment he shot Massey, who died of a gunshot wound.
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who → capture → wound
Grayson's body camera was not activated for most of the call, only turning on shortly after he pulled his weapon.
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he → activate → weapon
In the bodycam video, while Massey is holding the pot of water, Grayson is heard saying: "You'd better f***ing not.
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You → hold → water
I swear to God, I'll f***ing shoot you right in your f***ing face."
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I → swear → face
He then raises his gun and yells at Massey to "drop the f***ing pot!"
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He → raise → pot
Massey apologizes and ducks for cover, at which point Grayson shot her, according to prosecutors.
uncertain
Grayson → apologize → prosecutors
Three shots are heard in the video.
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shots → hear → video
testified during the trial that he was not afraid of Massey during the call, but instead feared Grayson.
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he → testify → Grayson
Farley told the jury that, while he was confused after Massey said "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus," he never perceived that as a threat.
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he → tell → threat
He added he only unholstered his gun because Grayson did.
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Grayson → add → gun
